JoJo's office tanks

JojosReef

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#22
How's the macro algae doing? Would you recommend Mosaic?
Had some unfortunate luck with the tanks and the tank transfer. Tank transfer has been severely delayed (again), so the macros haven't gone to their intended destination and all of them didn't make it. I still have some Galaxaura in the small tank, but the small tank is battling dinos after a few mishaps, and the dinos are covereing the galaxaura, so not sure if it is going to make it.

I don't blame Mosaic for this. This is my fault. I should have waited for the new tank to be running with the refugium set up, but I saw the macro I really really wanted (orange galaxy) and got trigger happy.
 

JojosReef

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#23
Tank update:

I'm finished with the lid and the sump modifications. Still have to get the acrylic "pedestal" polished, and starting to work on drilling holes to install the T slot light mounts and t slot stand bracing. Good times.

Lid:
1733445456046.jpeg

1733445467105.jpeg

Flaps for the cord cut-outs. Not planning on using them at first, just one MP40, but might need to add gyres or something else later, so flaps are protection from wrasses jumping.
1733445518570.jpeg

1733445529115.jpeg


Finished modifying the sump. The skimmer chamber has been converted to a 1/2 lighted macro, 1/2 cryptic refugium.

Concept:
1733445647526.jpeg

Need to make a shade for the back half:
1733445723401.jpeg

Black plexiglass:
1733445739887.jpeg

1733445751916.jpeg

1733445761838.jpeg

Some smoothing out to do still, but overall OK.
Next, need to black out the side glass walls or there's going to be massive algae growth in the filtration and return chambers:
1733445807128.jpeg

Cut plexiglass, siliconed to glass wall:
1733445848174.jpeg

Other side:
1733445860113.jpeg

1733445868834.jpeg

Add a 4" tall weir wall from filtration chamber to contain a 2-3" bed of sand/mud without substrate blowing everywhere:
1733445945925.jpeg

1733445957172.jpeg

Done
1733445972716.jpeg

1733445983581.jpeg


Next up, light mount + stand support. Concept:
1733446039952.jpeg

1733446051604.jpeg
 

Jimbo327

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#24
You are an acrylic snapping pro now. LOL. The edges are cleaner if you score both sides of the acrylic (just make sure they match up on both sides) before you snap.

Looking good though. The new tank is coming along nice.
 

mescobar

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#26
Had some unfortunate luck with the tanks and the tank transfer. Tank transfer has been severely delayed (again), so the macros haven't gone to their intended destination and all of them didn't make it. I still have some Galaxaura in the small tank, but the small tank is battling dinos after a few mishaps, and the dinos are covereing the galaxaura, so not sure if it is going to make it.

I don't blame Mosaic for this. This is my fault. I should have waited for the new tank to be running with the refugium set up, but I saw the macro I really really wanted (orange galaxy) and got trigger happy.
Oh man, that's unfortunate. Hope the next macro attempt is more successful.
 

JojosReef

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#27
This is awesome Joe! Love the handy work. Was this what that extra rock was going to be used for?
Yep, I am making a relatively narrow arch to go into the extra space in the DT (~12" length extra) and then a pile of rocks for the cryptic zone of the refugium. Some smaller rocks as holdfasts for macro in the lighted zone.
 

rishma

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#29
I’ve been thinking about a no filtration tank having never tried one. Interested to see how this goes. I think the particulate foods our tanks lack is a missing link, but I worry about keeping nutrients under control.
 

JojosReef

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#30
My main tank is undergoing a bit of neglect-decline while I've been busy working, traveling and using my normal "reefing" time to set up the 83 gal upgrade. Big update due!
 

JojosReef

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#31
Lots to update in this build! I've been working slowly, chipping away at my To-Dos while managing work, travel, family, holidays... it's going to get done and soon!

Starting with the light mount. The original idea is detailed in a post above. I was going to hang 4+ Noopsyche lights over the tank to give it an even spread and not break the bank, because I've already got 4 Noopsyche K7 Minis.

Mats: Zyltech 3030 (mm) aluminum extrusion T slots
1736841089686.jpeg


Goal: attach directly to the stand:
1736841113498.jpeg

(not yet attached)

Then I got to thinking, "that's a lot of bricks". I started shopping for single unit lights like ReefBreeders and Orpheks. Was just getting to the point where I was hopelessly considering buying a new expensive light and suffering the inevitable consequences, when an Orphek Atlantik V4 with Icon upgrade hit the forum! Perfect spread for my 48"x20"x20" tank!

And here it is! Got the T slots all bolted in.
1736841374174.jpeg


Added some felt padding to reduce vibration, noise and scratching from contact with the aluminum:
1736841417915.jpeg


Light's up! Slides right into the T slot with its button screws!
1736841453544.jpeg

1736841498346.jpeg


Light wasn't working consistently at first (would randomly power off or not power on), so had a bit of work to do first.

1736841547178.jpeg

1736841560653.jpeg


Bit of wire corrosion burning the power supply wires. Turns out easy fix. Cut back wires, compressed air can and some isopropyl alcohol and all clean!
1736841653036.jpeg

1736841666863.jpeg


Houston, we have lift-off!
1736841475125.jpeg



Good with lights for now. How about the sump. Sump was all modified in above post. Now for the sump rock and the additional display rock. Fortunately, I have some OLD dried out Fiji and Marshall Islands rocks in the warehouse. This stuff is excellent.

(left is rock for display, right is rock for sump cryptic zone and part for macro zone):
1736841811620.jpeg

Display rock side-view. A nice arch!
1736841834662.jpeg

And got it cooking!
1736841857017.jpeg


Now for the stand. The most challenging aspect of this build. I am reinforcing the stand just for extra safety. To do this, I am using Zyltech 2040 aluminum extrusion to brace the inside of the marine plywood stand. Here is the general idea:
1736841969108.png

And the plan is to bolt in T slots to the bottom of the plywood top of the stand to prevent bowing and provide some additional rigidity to avoid rocking side-to-side. Ideally I would have a full perimeter "rectangle" connected by L brackets, but the plumbing hole gets in the way and there is no way to run a long length of T slot on the back through the panels without cutting a hole in one of the sides. Not worth it. So here's the design:
1736842138963.png

This would be the view from inside the stand looking up at the bottom side of the top of the stand. The dark brown lines are the plywood side and vertical panels on either side of the ATO (weight bearing).

The idea for attaching the T slots is to drill M5 holes in the top plywood and use a forstner bit to countersink the head of the screws (M5 flanged head screws) and attach them to T nuts in the 2040. There is one 2020 bar next to the ATO panel so it doesn't cover up the wire/tubing pass-though holes. Today I started drilling and just finished the first profile in the front (test run):
1736842484521.jpeg

1736842496813.jpeg


Total of 11 M5 bolts attaching the T slot. It feels very stable. Next will be to attach all of the other profiles and then "seat" them by bolting L brackets to the bottom and screwing the L brackets to the plywood.

Next steps:
1. Finish stand reinforcements
2. Put together the control board and attach Hydros devices
3. Attach electrical (power strips, power supplies, etc.) to stand
4. Move stand and tank to final resting place and get WET!

Speaking of final resting place. I got a super shwanky new desk from a neighboring office that was closing up and donating their furniture. So I redesigned my office.

Before:
1736843138449.jpeg

1736843147223.jpeg

1736843328838.jpeg


After:
1736843356023.jpeg

1736843365223.jpeg

1736843374540.jpeg


Now see how long it stays tidy...
 

bakbay

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#33
Lots to update in this build! I've been working slowly, chipping away at my To-Dos while managing work, travel, family, holidays... it's going to get done and soon!

Starting with the light mount. The original idea is detailed in a post above. I was going to hang 4+ Noopsyche lights over the tank to give it an even spread and not break the bank, because I've already got 4 Noopsyche K7 Minis.

Mats: Zyltech 3030 (mm) aluminum extrusion T slots
View attachment 122212

Goal: attach directly to the stand:
View attachment 122213
(not yet attached)

Then I got to thinking, "that's a lot of bricks". I started shopping for single unit lights like ReefBreeders and Orpheks. Was just getting to the point where I was hopelessly considering buying a new expensive light and suffering the inevitable consequences, when an Orphek Atlantik V4 with Icon upgrade hit the forum! Perfect spread for my 48"x20"x20" tank!

And here it is! Got the T slots all bolted in.
View attachment 122214

Added some felt padding to reduce vibration, noise and scratching from contact with the aluminum:
View attachment 122215

Light's up! Slides right into the T slot with its button screws!
View attachment 122216
View attachment 122218

Light wasn't working consistently at first (would randomly power off or not power on), so had a bit of work to do first.

View attachment 122219
View attachment 122220

Bit of wire corrosion burning the power supply wires. Turns out easy fix. Cut back wires, compressed air can and some isopropyl alcohol and all clean!
View attachment 122221
View attachment 122222

Houston, we have lift-off!
View attachment 122217


Good with lights for now. How about the sump. Sump was all modified in above post. Now for the sump rock and the additional display rock. Fortunately, I have some OLD dried out Fiji and Marshall Islands rocks in the warehouse. This stuff is excellent.

(left is rock for display, right is rock for sump cryptic zone and part for macro zone):
View attachment 122223
Display rock side-view. A nice arch!
View attachment 122224
And got it cooking!
View attachment 122225

Now for the stand. The most challenging aspect of this build. I am reinforcing the stand just for extra safety. To do this, I am using Zyltech 2040 aluminum extrusion to brace the inside of the marine plywood stand. Here is the general idea:
View attachment 122226
And the plan is to bolt in T slots to the bottom of the plywood top of the stand to prevent bowing and provide some additional rigidity to avoid rocking side-to-side. Ideally I would have a full perimeter "rectangle" connected by L brackets, but the plumbing hole gets in the way and there is no way to run a long length of T slot on the back through the panels without cutting a hole in one of the sides. Not worth it. So here's the design:
View attachment 122227
This would be the view from inside the stand looking up at the bottom side of the top of the stand. The dark brown lines are the plywood side and vertical panels on either side of the ATO (weight bearing).

The idea for attaching the T slots is to drill M5 holes in the top plywood and use a forstner bit to countersink the head of the screws (M5 flanged head screws) and attach them to T nuts in the 2040. There is one 2020 bar next to the ATO panel so it doesn't cover up the wire/tubing pass-though holes. Today I started drilling and just finished the first profile in the front (test run):
View attachment 122228
View attachment 122229

Total of 11 M5 bolts attaching the T slot. It feels very stable. Next will be to attach all of the other profiles and then "seat" them by bolting L brackets to the bottom and screwing the L brackets to the plywood.

Next steps:
1. Finish stand reinforcements
2. Put together the control board and attach Hydros devices
3. Attach electrical (power strips, power supplies, etc.) to stand
4. Move stand and tank to final resting place and get WET!

Speaking of final resting place. I got a super shwanky new desk from a neighboring office that was closing up and donating their furniture. So I redesigned my office.

Before:
View attachment 122230
View attachment 122231
View attachment 122232

After:
View attachment 122233
View attachment 122234
View attachment 122235

Now see how long it stays tidy...
Looks great! Ditto what Jimbo said -- I would get nothing done since I'll be tinkering with it all day long... lol
 

JojosReef

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#36
Looks excellent. What kind of lights are those?
Orphek Atlantik V4 with Icon upgrade. Newly purchased from the haiguys! So far I really like this light and will start PAR testing as soon as it's wet. @haiguys sprrad looks nice. Thinking on the future, wondering if I should attach a 12" OR4 bar on either side angled in to get light on the sides if the rocks create shade.
 

haiguys

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#37
Orphek Atlantik V4 with Icon upgrade. Newly purchased from the haiguys! So far I really like this light and will start PAR testing as soon as it's wet. @haiguys sprrad looks nice. Thinking on the future, wondering if I should attach a 12" OR4 bar on either side angled in to get light on the sides if the rocks create shade.
My opinion is get the pair of light bars. I’ve seen some magazines with tanks lit up using only those bars and they have very nice looking tanks.
 

JojosReef

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#39
Might as well give this an update while I'm at it!

Tank setup still plodding along. I've moved it into my actual office and it's in its permanent home!
1738189298919.jpeg


Leak testing bit by bit. Which is to say that I first added about 20 gal of saltwater and left it over the weekend. Came back, no leaks and seams look fine. Added sand, rocks and another 20 gal. Still going fine. Next will add another 30-40 gal and that'll be it for the leak test, and then to the plumbing test and dialing in the return flow. That has me nervous. This is my first tank with a sump--all AIOs before.

Control board is coming along, but already looking tight with the electrical!
1738189509094.jpeg

1738189517171.jpeg


About halfway there. Still have the Helio and the MP40 to add, leaving space for another MP40 and/or maybe an Inkbird (although Hydros is serving the same function... maybe just for redundancy).

FYI, for electrical, I've got two plug-in GFCI cords (one plugged in so far):
1738189926316.jpeg

And two surge protected strips that each plug into one of the GFCI extensions (one currently plugged in):
1738189957566.jpeg


I need to mount those onto the right hand side of this section of the stand. Gonna bit tight, but if I tuck most of the wiring between those two pegboards, then perhaps it won't be too cluttered!
 

Jimbo327

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#40
That peg board looks really clean and slick. Damn, wish I had thought to do that. LOL.

Plumbing is super simple with sump. And way way better than AIO.
 
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